Taliban stages deadly attack on Afghan parliament

At least five people and seven attackers killed after suicide car bomb and gunfire rock sitting session of parliament.

22 Jun 2015 18:41 GMT

The Afghan parliament has been attacked by Taliban fighters in Kabul, with a series of explosions and gunfire forcing politicians to evacuate.

Al Jazeera's Jennifer Glasse, reporting from Kabul, said five people were killed, in addition to the seven fighters who launched the attack on Monday.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the raid, which injured at least 21 people, including five women and three children.

About two hours after the initial explosion, police declared the operation had ended with seven attackers being killed - including a suicide car bomber.

"Suicide bombers have attacked outside the [parliamentary] building," she said, adding that gunfire continued to be heard for more than an hour after the first explosion. "There are burning cars outside the building."

A police source at the scene told Al Jazeera that the attack apparently started when a suicide car bomb exploded outside the parliament.